Altar Identity Studios Film "Big Stone Gap" Starring Ashley Judd, Co-Produced by Oscar Winning Producer Donna Gigliotti, Written and Directed by Adriana Trigiani, Chosen to Premiere as the Opening Night Film at the 27th Virginia Film Festival

LOS ANGELES, CA and NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Oct 9, 2014) - Altar Identity Studios, a subsidiary of Media Society, a members-only community that enables high-net-worth individuals to utilize a managed-risk strategy to participate in diversified slates of independent films, announced today that its film "Big Stone Gap" starring Ashley Judd, Patrick Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg, would be premiering as the Opening Night Film at the 27thVirginia Film Festival on November 6 in Charlottesville.

This year's festival, which runs from November 6-9, will showcase the best in contemporary film, while celebrating cinematic triumphs of the past and exploring timeless themes, with "Big Stone Gap" selected to open the festival followed by a diverse lineup of more than 100 films including "Foxcatcher" starring Steve Carell and Channing Tatum, "The Imitation Game" starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley and "Wild" starring Reese Witherspoon, Gaby Hoffmann and Laura Dern.

Altar Identity Studios financed the feature film "Big Stone Gap," produced by Donna Gigliotti, Academy Award® winner for "Shakespeare in Love." The film, written and directed by Adriana Trigiani, based on her bestselling novel follows the success of Altar Identity Studios' Broadway Production of "First Date" now being licensed globally by Rodgers and Hammerstein. "First Date" will premiere in Japan in November.

Wade Bradley, CEO of Media Society and President of Altar Identity Studios, said, "We're thrilled to have our film chosen to open the Virginia Film Festival. In an industry where it takes years to produce a project, Media Society has successfully finished its second production in 16 months. "Big Stone Gap" is our first film in our diversified slate of films that have the potential to earn a high return on investment. We have come a long way in a very short time and I couldn't be prouder of our team and our partners."

Helen Rosenberg, CFO of Media Society and Altar Identity Studios, said, "It's a tremendous honor to have our film open this prestigious festival. It is a testament to all our hard work and the success of our end-to-end managed risk strategy, as well as partnering with top talent like Donna Gigliotti and Adriana Trigiani alongside an incredible cast. It's also a great tribute to have our film premiere in Virginia because the story takes place in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. We hope we captured the beauty of this magnificent state."

Donna Gigliotti said, "This is a wonderful movie with a talented cast of actors and directed by Adriana Trigiani who showed such deep care for her story and her surroundings. I am pleased to have partnered with Media Society and Altar Identity Studios on 'Big Stone Gap' and I look forward to producing more films together."

The Virginia Film Festival, presented by the University of Virginia, will have a stellar lineup of special guests highlighted by Hal Holbrook, Jenna Elfman, Frank Langella, Patrick Wilson, Barry Levinson, Katie Couric, Richard Roundtree, and Jasmine Guy. Since its inaugural year in 1988, the Virginia Film Festival has honored the most celebrated names in film including Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck, Sidney Poitier, Gena Rowlands, Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman, Sigourney Weaver, Robert Duvall, Sandra Bullock, Matthew Broderick, and Oliver Stone.

ABOUT ALTAR IDENTITY STUDIOSAltar Identity Studios (a Media Society company) combines Media Society's exclusive, members-only community and its community of highly experienced feature film and live theatre production companies with an end-to-end managed-risk platform which finances production, marketing and distribution costs. The pioneering combination enables affluent members to become Altar Identity Executive Producers with priceless access and experiences while engaged in the art and business of filmmaking and live theatre.

ABOUT MEDIA SOCIETYMedia Society is an exclusive, members-only community that provides high-net-worth individuals with a managed-risk investment strategy to invest in a diversified slate of independent films that have the potential to earn a high return on investment. Media Society members get a front row seat into the entertainment industry and attend highly exclusive events including: private screenings, ICONS events, Academy Award viewing galas, going behind the scenes on-set and walking the red-carpet as a VIP at US theatrical premieres. All of this is in addition to being recognized with an Executive Producer credit on their feature films. For more information on Media Society, visit www.mediasociety.com.